Lens mounting



LENS MOUNTING Filed Sept.- 11, 19,40

Patented Feb. 2, 1943 LENS MOUNTDIG Williamit. Uhlemann, Evanston, and Richard H. Uhlemann, Antioch, Ill., assignors to Uhlemann Optical Co. of Illinois, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application September 11, 1940, [Serial No. 356,261

(Cl. StZ-41) 8 Claims.

Our invention relates to lens mountings.

in mounting ophthalmic lenses, it is desirable that once the lens and associated parts of the mounting have been properly adjusted relative to each other they should remainV in this adjusted position and should not be easily accidentally displaced therefrom. In certain types of mountings it is also desirable that the lens be yieldingly supported.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide a lens strap member having a spring which will yieldingly hold the lens in a definite position with respect to associated parts of the mounting, such as the bridge or the temple-supporting wires.

A further object of our invention is to provide such a construction in which the strap member is provided with an abutment for controlling the action of the spring member.

A further object of our invention is to provide a reinforcement for the -arm or finger which carries the leaf spring.

A further object is to provide a mounting of the type indicated above in which a temple-supporting wire is secured to the mounting adjacent the nasal edge of the lens.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appearfrom the description and claims.

in the drawing, in which an embodiment of our invention is shown:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the lenses and mounting;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the strap member;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View of the strap member substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 but showing the lens mounted in position and the templesupporting wire secured to the strap member;

Fig. 5 is a section substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View showing a some-- whatdiferent form of strap member;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing still another form; and

Fig. l8 is a vertical sectional View of the construction shown in Fig. 7.

Referring first to Figs. 1-5, incl., the construction shown comprises a lens mounting l and a pair of lenses 2 mounted thereon. The lens mounting shown comprises a bridge portion 3, a pair of strap members 4 for the lenses 2, respectively, and a pair of nose'guards 5.

Each strap member 4 comprises'alpair of strap portions 6 for embracing 'and 'gripping "the lens 2, an elongated backing or supporting portion l connecting the strap portions` 6 and extending along the edge of the lens from the strap portions, both above and below the strap portions, and a leaf spring tongue 8 secured to the supn porting portion at a point spaced vertically from the center plane of the strap portions 6 and extending between said supporting portion i and the edge of the lens 2, said supporting portion having a pair of stiffening ribs Si on opposite side edges extending longitudinally thereof.

In this form the supporting portion l, the strap portions and the leaf spring tongue 8 are shown as formed of a single piece of sheet metal. The lens 2 is secured to the strap member l by slipping the edge of the lens in between the strap portions 6 and pressing the lens inwardly far enough to enable a securing screw l@ to be in serted through registering openings in the strap arms 6 and lens 2. In making this connection, the edge of the lens will be forced against the leaf spring 8, causing the leaf spring in effect to pivot about va point Il adjacent the upper edge of the reinforced supporting portion i. The spring tongue 8 will exert pressure on the edge of the lens in the direction of the arrow A shown in Fig. 4, causing the securing pin Il! to react on the lens 2 in the direction of the arrow B and causing the relatively fixed portion l to react on the edge of the lens in the direction shown by the arrowv C'.

The downwardly-extending portion i2 of the strap member may be bent so as to act as a yielding abutment in engagement with the lower part of the leaf spring B, as shown in Fig. 4. With this construction, it will be seen that the lens mounting has two relatively xed spaced portions at I0 and Il reacting on the lens so that the leaf spring in co-operating with these two fixed portions will hold the lens in a relatively fixed position with respect to the mounting.

The temple-supporting wire I3 may be secured to the mounting in any suitable manner, as by soldering or brazing the lower portion of the temple-supporting wire to one of the reinforcing flanges 9 on the strap member. As the lens and temple-supporting wires I3 are thus secured in relatively fixed, denite positions with respect to the strap members 4 the lens will not easily get out of adjustment with respect to the templesupporting wire. When the temple-supporting wire has been adjusted so as to follow the contour of theV edge of the lens, it will stay in this position with respect to the edge of the lens. Referring to Fig. 4', it will 'be seen 'that the lens and temple supporting wire are mounted for relative pivotal movement about the screw l and that the yielding abutment I2 and leaf spring 8 constitute spring means for urging the edge of the lens and the temple supporting wire into alignment. It will also be seen that any relative =piv otal movement of the temple supporting Wire with respect to the edge of the lens will cause the edge of the lens to swing clockwise away from the temple supporting wire to facilitate inspection and cleaning.

The construction shown in Fig. 6 is in general similar in structure and function to that described above but in this form the leaf spring tongue 3 is formed separately from the strap member 4 and may 'be secured to the strap member as by riveting, as shown at I4.

The form shown in Figs. 7 and 8 also is similar to the construction of Figs. 1-5, inclusive. In this form, however, the leaf spring tongue 8 is secured to the strap member by providing the leaf spring tongue with laterally-extending supporting ears I seated in notches I6 in the reinforcing flanges 9 of the strap member 4. The upper end of the strap member may be bent over the upper edge of the leaf spring tongue to hold the ears in position in the notches as shown at I1.

It will be seen that in all of the forms shown a leaf spring tongue is provided which will yieldingly hold the lens in a definite position with respect to associated parts of the mounting, such as the bridge or temple-supporting wires.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is desired, therefore, that the invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An ophthalmic mounting comprising a strap member having spaced strap portions for embracing and gripping the edge portion of the lens and an elongated supporting portion connecting said strap portions and extending along the edge of the lens from the strap portions, means for securing said strap portions to said lens, and a leaf spring tongue secured to the supporting portion adjacent the outer extremity thereof and extending between said supporting portion and the edge of the lens, said supporting portion having a stiifening rib extending longitudinally thereof substantially throughout its length and said strap member having an abutment member extending along the edge of the lens from the strap portions in the opposite direction from that in which the supporting portion extends for engaging and supporting the leaf spring tongue a substantial distance beyond said strap means, said leaf spring tongue extending beyond said abutment member.

2. An ophthalmic mounting comprising a strap member having a portion securable to the edge portion of a lens and an elongated supporting portion rigidly associated with said securable portion and extending therefrom along the edge of the lens, means for securing said securable portion to the lens, and a leaf spring tongue secured to the supporting portion adjacent the outer extremity thereof and extending between said supporting `portion and the edge of the lens, said supporting portion being provided with means for stiifening the same substantially throughout its length and said strap member having an abutment member extending along the edge of the lens from the securable portion in the opposite direction from that in which the supporting portion extends, for engaging and supporting the leaf spring tongue a substantial distance beyond said securable portion, said leaf spring tongue extending beyond said abutment member.

3. An ophthalmic mounting `comprising a strap member having spaced strap portions for embracing an edge portion of a lens and an elongated supporting portion connecting said strap portions and extending along the edge of the lens from said strap portions, securing means extending through said strap portions and lens, said supporting portion comprising a substantially rigid arm extending to a point spaced vertically from the central plane of the strap portions for cooperating with said securing means to definitely position the lens, a spring carried by said strap member for exerting pressure on the edge of the lens tending to rotate the lens Vabout said securing means and force the edge of the lens toward said point of said arm, and a temple-supporting wire secured to said mounting adjacent the nasal edge of the lens and extending along and in the rear of the edge of the lens and following :closely the contour of the edge of the lens when said lens is in said definite position, whereby said spring will return -said lens edge into alignment with said wire when accidentally displaced therefrom, said spring being yieldable sufficiently to enable the lens edge to swing away from the temple supporting wire Ifor inspection and cleanmg.

4. An ophthalmic mounting comprising strap means for engaging a surface of an ophthalmic lens, a resilient member secured to said strap means and extending along the edge of the lens in opposite directions from the strap means to provide respectively a supporting portion and an abutment member, the resilient member being reversely bent on itself at the end of the supporting portion to provide a leaf spring tongue which extends along and in contact with the edge 0f the lens to a point which is a substantial distance beyond the abutment member, the supporting ,portion having spaced stiifening side ribs between which the leaf spring tongue is positioned, the end of the abutment member being positioned for engagement by the leaf spring tongue when the latter is flexed.

5. In combination, an ophthalmic lens, a temple supporting wire shaped to follow the contour of the lens edge between the nasal and temporal sides thereof, -pivotal means for connecting said wire and lens for relative pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the general plane of the lens, stop means for limiting said pivotal movement to cause the wire to align with the peripheral edge of the lens, and spring means for urging the wire and lens to said stop-limited position, said spring being yieldable to enable the edge of the lens to swing away from the temple supporting wire for inspection and cleaning.

6. In combination, an ophthalmic lens, a temple supporting wire shaped to follow the contour of the lens edge between the nasal and temporal sides thereof,' pivotal means for connecting said wire and lens for relative pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the general plane of the lens, stop means for limiting said pivotal movement to cause the wire to align with the peripheral edge of the lens, and spring means for urging the wire and lens to said stop-limited position, said spring being yieldable to enable the edge of the lens to swing away from the temple supporting wire for inspection and cleaning, said pivotal means comprising a strap having ears embracing the edge of the lens and a pivot pin extending through said ears and lens.

'7. In combination, an ophthalmic lens, a temple supporting wire shaped to follow the lcontour of the lens edge between the nasal and temporal sides thereof, Ipivotal means for connecting said wire and lens for relative pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the general plane of the lens, stop means for limiting said pivotal movement to -cause the Wire to align with the peripheral edge of the lens, and spring means for urging the -wire and lens to said stop-limited position, said spring being yieldable to enable the edge of the lens to swing away from the temple supporting wire for inspection and cleaning, said pivotal means comprising a strap having ears embracing the edge of the lens and a pivot pin extending through said ears and lens, said wire being secured to said strap.

8. In combination, an ophthalmic lens, a temple supporting wire shaped to follow the contour of the lens edge between the nasal and temporal sides thereof, pivotal means for connecting said wire and lens for relative pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the general -plane of the lens, stop means for limiting said pivotal movement to cause the wire to align with the lperipheral edge of the lens, and spring means -for urging the Wire and lens to said stop-limited position, said spring being yieldable to enable the edge of the lens to swing away from the temple supporting wire -for inspection and cleaning, said pivotal means comprising a strap having ears embracing the edge of the lens and a pivot pin extending through said ears and lens, said wire being secured to said strap, said spring means being mounted on said strap and bearing on the edge of the lens.

WILLIAM R. UHLEMANN. RICHARD H. UHLEMANN. 

